Compared to the elements of art, the principles of art are challenging to understand. A shape, for example, is obviously different from a color. Shape and color are both elements of art. A person without any art education would immediately … Continue reading
Sometimes a painting or drawing is a story. All good stories have a hero or, at least, a main character. Visual art can have a main character too. The main character does not have to be a person. An object … Continue reading
Proportion is the principle of art that refers to relative size. The principles of art differ from the elements of art. Most, if not all of the principles of art deal with how the elements art are arranged in a … Continue reading
Balance refers to many things. As toddlers, we learn to balance our bodies. Riding a bicycle requires balancing an object. Even how we organize our time requires a measure of balance. We all have our own inherent sense of visual … Continue reading
Artist Ashley Hurst shares several essential drawing exercise designed to improve to your drawing practice. As the seasons pass and spring flowers replace the cold winter wind, so to are old thoughts replaced with new ones. I think about planting … Continue reading
Artist Ashley Hurst shares his process for creating textures in a painting by utilizing unexpected tools and materials. I love painting textures, but for many aspiring artists, texture is a stumbling block. When faced with a subject that is defined … Continue reading
Artist Ashley Hurst shares his process for matching colors with paint. Color mixing can be difficult, but his method simplifies the process. In the late 90s, I got a job matching color. I was a college student at the time … Continue reading
Artist Ashley Hurst has years of experience painting with traditional oil paints but had never used water mixable oils. The following post and video details his first impressions of the medium and the pros and cons of its usage. Water … Continue reading
